Startups making 3D printers have electrified the tech industry. Just ask Voxel8, a Boston-based startup that makes what it says is the first 3D printer able to print electronic devices. Or ask In-Q-Tel, the venture capital firm with links to the Central Intelligence Agency. In-Q-Tel recently made a strategic equity investment in Voxel8 and also … Continue reading “CIA-Backed VC Firm Invests in Voxel8’s 3D Printer for Electronics”
Category: Boston
G20 Ventures Closes $63M Fund for East Coast Enterprise Tech
Smaller, faster, cheaper: it’s a trend in early-stage tech venture capital that mirrors the rise of the computing industry. The latest exhibit is G20 Ventures, a Boston-based investment firm that has closed its first fund at $63.45 million. G20 was founded by Bob Hower and Bill Wiberg, both general partners at Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV). … Continue reading “G20 Ventures Closes $63M Fund for East Coast Enterprise Tech”
Aura Bio Gets $21M, Pivots to Rare Eye Cancers With Virus Nanotech
Genzyme is best known for its rare disease work. So perhaps it’s no surprise that some of its former executives are helping to steer six-year-old Cambridge, MA-based startup Aura Biosciences in that direction as well. Aura today is announcing it’s raised a $21 million Series B round from a group of VC firms and former … Continue reading “Aura Bio Gets $21M, Pivots to Rare Eye Cancers With Virus Nanotech”
As Uber Becomes a Publisher, Boston Taxi Trade Paper Stops Printing
Uber isn’t just changing the way taxi and black-car companies operate. As the multibillion-dollar car-for-hire juggernaut expands across the country, businesses that serve the old-school, heavily regulated taxi industry are suddenly feeling the effects of new competition. A prime example is Carriage News, a 45-year-old trade paper focusing on the taxi industry around Boston. Late last month, publisher Bob Keeley … Continue reading “As Uber Becomes a Publisher, Boston Taxi Trade Paper Stops Printing”
Macrolide Pharmaceuticals Secures $22,000,000 Series A Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e974622e-dd68-47b8-ac7c-0803a23fd72f Date 3/5/2015 Company Name Macrolide Pharmaceuticals Mailing Address 3 Newton Executive Park Newton, MA 02462 USA Company Description Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, LLC. is a new anti-infective company founded to advance groundbreaking technology developed by Professor Andrew Myers of Harvard University. Website http://www.macrolidepharma.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $22,000,000 Transaction Round Series … Continue reading “Macrolide Pharmaceuticals Secures $22,000,000 Series A Funding”
Aura Biosciences Obtains $21,000,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=41d6c4c8-1ac5-490d-b304-4412adab74b0 Date 3/5/2015 Company Name Aura Biosciences Mailing Address 85 Bolton Street Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Company Description Aura Biosciences is a next generation biotech company – combining the expertise of leading academic institutions through research and licensing agreements, with the flexibility and efficiency of a dedicated team of in-house scientists, deal-makers, … Continue reading “Aura Biosciences Obtains $21,000,000 Series B Financing”
The Robots of New England: An Innovation Slideshow
They come from all walks of life. Some work on factory floors or in warehouses. Others hang out in your home, doing menial tasks or trying to engage you on a social level. Yet others attach to your body and help you walk better or do rehabilitation exercises. New England has a distinguished history in … Continue reading “The Robots of New England: An Innovation Slideshow”
Antibiotics Startup Gets $22M From Roche, Others, For New “Macrolides”
It wasn’t long ago that the antibiotics landscape was barren of startups with fresh ideas. But government initiatives like the Generating Antibiotics Initiatives Now (GAIN) Act—and, of course, the increasing need to combat drug-resistant bugs—are slowly starting to change things. The latest example: Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, which was officially launched this morning with the backing of … Continue reading “Antibiotics Startup Gets $22M From Roche, Others, For New “Macrolides””
Ex-Alnylam Exec to Steer Warp Drive Bio; Verdine Shifts Roles
[Updated, 3/5/15, 3:56 pm ET] Gregory Verdine left a tenured position at Harvard University last year to lead a Cambridge, MA, startup trying to derive new drugs from the microbes in plants and dirt. Today Verdine is handing the reins of Warp Drive Bio over to Laurence Reid, the former chief business officer at nearby … Continue reading “Ex-Alnylam Exec to Steer Warp Drive Bio; Verdine Shifts Roles”
Just Eight Days Left—Get Your Seat for “New York’s Life Science Disruptors”
We’re just over a week away from bringing the Big Apple biotech community together for a taste of what it takes to make it here—and what big stories are changing the face of biomedical research in and around Manhattan. Tickets are going fast, but there are still seats available for our March 12 bash at … Continue reading “Just Eight Days Left—Get Your Seat for “New York’s Life Science Disruptors””
Top 3 Personal Health Tips From the Founders of Elysium
First of all, it’s not really an anti-aging startup. That’s one takeaway after sitting down with the founders of Elysium Health last week. The newly launched company is headquartered in New York City, with a network of advisors worldwide. It’s out to sell nutritional supplements to consumers online to improve their personal health, not necessarily … Continue reading “Top 3 Personal Health Tips From the Founders of Elysium”
Rock Health Backs Chrono Therapeutics’ Anti-Smoking Wearable
Chrono Therapeutics, a startup whose wearable device called SmartStop delivers nicotine doses through the skin to help smokers quit, now has the backing of Rock Health, a noted seed stage investor in the growing digital health field. Hayward, CA-based Chrono, which raised $32 million in a Series A financing round in June, will get another … Continue reading “Rock Health Backs Chrono Therapeutics’ Anti-Smoking Wearable”
Blueprint Cuts $265M Alexion Deal With IPO in Sight
It’s been a year of transition for Blueprint Medicines. Since early 2014, the Cambridge, MA-based company moved on from its founding CEO, named two lead programs, added a whole bunch of new investors, and raised a total of $75 million. Now it’s getting its first stamp of approval from a large drugmaker—Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Blueprint and … Continue reading “Blueprint Cuts $265M Alexion Deal With IPO in Sight”
Focused on Glaucoma, Aerie Looks Toward Unblinding Critical Data
Glaucoma is a ripe opportunity for drug developers. Generics litter the field, yet it’s a roughly $5 billion market that will only grow with an aging population. What’s more, nothing out there cures the disease. Patients typically take eye drops, chronically, for the rest of their lives. In other words, there’s room for innovation. That’s … Continue reading “Focused on Glaucoma, Aerie Looks Toward Unblinding Critical Data”
Tiger Teams, Dropping Subs, and Biotech’s Elusive Second Strikes
Onesie-twosie? Double dipping? The old razzle dazzle? Whatever you call it, it’s a rare feat to sell a biotech company, hold something back to start a new company, then ride that second horse to success. The team behind Flexus Biosciences is halfway there, as I wrote about last week. They sold a preclinical cancer immunotherapy … Continue reading “Tiger Teams, Dropping Subs, and Biotech’s Elusive Second Strikes”
Daktari Diagnostics Garners $15,500,000 Series D Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=792b7fd5-f876-4e58-aec7-e6b5717b6665 Date 3/3/2015 Company Name Daktari Diagnostics Mailing Address 85 Bolton St. Cambridge, MA 02140 USA Company Description Daktari Diagnostics, Inc., is a new diagnostics company focused exclusively on the most pressing challenges in global health. The company develops simple, accurate, and affordable products that deliver critical diagnostic information to clinicians and … Continue reading “Daktari Diagnostics Garners $15,500,000 Series D Funding Round”
Linkable Networks Grabs $11.7M Series C for New Hires
Linkable Networks, a company whose software lets consumers link coupons and other rewards to their credit and debit cards, has received $11.7 million in a Series C funding that it will use to further develop its product and double the size of its staff. The money came from existing investors Kepha Partners, CommonAngels, and BlueChip … Continue reading “Linkable Networks Grabs $11.7M Series C for New Hires”
PayPal Buys Paydiant Amid Mobile Payments Shakeout
[Updated at 3 pm with comment from investor] After years of fits and starts, the mobile payments technology sector is finally getting serious about sifting through the winners and losers. One more startup in the win column: Paydiant, a Newton, MA-based provider of mobile-app technology for other companies, which is being acquired by PayPal. The companies … Continue reading “PayPal Buys Paydiant Amid Mobile Payments Shakeout”
Therapeutic Video Game Startup Akili Takes Aim at Autism
For decades, experts have debated whether video games positively or negatively affect your brain. Boston-based startup Akili Interactive thinks it’s a settled question, and that games on mobile devices can be beneficial both for players and doctors. Now it’s all about proving it. Akili announced Monday it has formed a clinical research collaboration agreement with … Continue reading “Therapeutic Video Game Startup Akili Takes Aim at Autism”
With Celiac Deal, Celimmune Aims to Give New Life to Old Amgen Drug
Sometimes a drug gathering dust at a big company finds new life at a startup. And sometimes the two companies cut a deal, in case that startup is on to something. That’s exactly what biotech giant Amgen is doing with brand-new startup Celimmune, in a deal announced today. Celimmune, based in Lebanon, NJ, and Bethesda, … Continue reading “With Celiac Deal, Celimmune Aims to Give New Life to Old Amgen Drug”
Cancer Immunotherapy Companies: Looking Forward and Looking Back
[Updated, 4/7/15, see below] I’ve been researching one of our local immunotherapy developers here in Seattle, trying to round up the views of industry experts regarding the future prospects of a drug at the front of its pipeline. Do they think it’s a good investment? Here’s what I found out: Analysts predict that sales of … Continue reading “Cancer Immunotherapy Companies: Looking Forward and Looking Back”
Mersana Therapeutics Obtains $35,000,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ae3572c9-c435-4407-89ee-3612be2ea6c0 Date 3/2/2015 Company Name Mersana Therapeutics Mailing Address 840 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Company Description Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Nanopharma Corp.) is focused on developing novel oncology agents based on Fleximer, a stealth material that enhances the pharmacokinetics and safety of drugs. Website http://www.mersana.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “Mersana Therapeutics Obtains $35,000,000 Series B Financing”
PayPal Acquires Paydiant for Undisclosed Sum
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61b0ed23-0a41-448c-b0de-b6d0bb0acdf3 Date 3/2/2015 Company Name Paydiant Mailing Address 40 Walnut Street Wellesley, MA 02481 USA Company Description The company operates an online service that facilitates online payments via mobile phones. Website http://www.paydiant.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes M&A Terms Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed … Continue reading “PayPal Acquires Paydiant for Undisclosed Sum”
Innovation Hub: Advertising’s New Age
A product, a camera phone, and a sensor. Those may be the essential tools of advertising in the 21st century. Increasingly, we’re witnessing the disappearance of the classic, 30-second ad. Now products are looking to lure us with humor (I’m looking at you, Old Spice Guy) or whiz-bang theatrics (think Jean-Claude Van Damme straddling Volvos). … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Advertising’s New Age”
RIP Leaf: Heartland Halts Payment-Tech Provider in Consolidation
Restaurant checkout-tech provider Leaf, which has been a unit of payments processing company Heartland Payment Systems since 2014, is being shuttered as Heartland looks for a new direction in the fast-changing world of retail payments. Heartland announced the shift as part of its quarterly earnings earlier this month. The Princeton, NJ-based company said it was acquiring two more point-of-sale … Continue reading “RIP Leaf: Heartland Halts Payment-Tech Provider in Consolidation”
Milestones of Innovation 3: ‘Modern Pioneers’ at the Waldorf–1940
When people made lists of leading innovators 75 years ago, they saw a landscape very different from today’s for putting discoveries, techniques, money, workers, and customers together to get something new and useful onto the market. In the brief interval between the Depression and World War II, the dominant factor was the large, vertically integrated … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 3: ‘Modern Pioneers’ at the Waldorf–1940”
Paul Maritz Brings Cloud Expertise to Nanobiosym With Investment
Paul Maritz, the cloud-computing expert who has run companies including Pivotal and VMware, is investing in and joining the board of Nanobiosym Diagnostics, the company said today. Nanobiosym’s CEO Anita Goel (pictured) plans to work with Maritz to develop a way to make data from the company’s’s core diagnostic product available on a secure, customizable … Continue reading “Paul Maritz Brings Cloud Expertise to Nanobiosym With Investment”
Shoutlet Snags $5M More to Help Big Brands Boost Social Marketing
Shoutlet has raised $5 million to continue growing its social media analytics and marketing business, a new SEC filing shows. Including the new financing, which is a combination of debt and stock options, Madison, WI-based Shoutlet appears to have raised a total of at least $31.2 million, according to SEC documents and past press releases. … Continue reading “Shoutlet Snags $5M More to Help Big Brands Boost Social Marketing”
New Harvard i-lab Head Talks Global Expansion, Startup Initiatives
The Harvard Innovation Lab’s incoming managing director isn’t wasting any time getting started. Jodi Goldstein, announced Wednesday as the lab’s successor to current head Gordon Jones as of June 1, is already working on expansion plans, including a possible new fund for supporting startups. Goldstein has been at the i-lab since its launch in 2011, … Continue reading “New Harvard i-lab Head Talks Global Expansion, Startup Initiatives”
Worldbrain Garners $1,909,673 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=465d4c40-1123-468e-af8e-26874ccae735 Date 2/26/2015 Company Name Worldbrain Mailing Address 129 South Street Boston, MA 02111 USA Company Description We are not an educational travel company. It’s our mission to help make travel a part of everyone’s education. We connect educators to educational travel companies and provide tools that will make each trip a … Continue reading “Worldbrain Garners $1,909,673 New Financing”
LiquidPiston Obtains $1,145,681 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=7e2eba44-9ab0-4f58-afd2-59f9e8592439 Date 2/26/2015 Company Name LiquidPiston Mailing Address 1292a Blue Hills Avenue Bloomfield, CT 06002 USA Company Description LiquidPiston, Inc. has conceptualized a new patent pending internal combustion engine architecture, which promises to drastically improve fuel efficiency and power density compared to existing engines. Website http://www.liquidpiston.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “LiquidPiston Obtains $1,145,681 New Funding”
Wigo Lands $1,500,000 Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=23465bb3-0494-4e2a-abfd-a2cdde9370b7 Date 2/26/2015 Company Name Wigo Mailing Address 250 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description WiGo, Inc. develops a college social application that helps students to coordinate social plans. Its platform allows students to see who at school is going out tonight; let friends know where they are heading; tap … Continue reading “Wigo Lands $1,500,000 Seed Financing”
Alzheon Garners $4,294,629 New Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=bf0746e7-2ee1-499d-95d1-cbcbae84b638 Date 2/26/2015 Company Name Alzheon Mailing Address 111 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701 USA Company Description Alzheon is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on brain health, memory and aging, developing innovative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Website http://www.alzheon.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,294,629 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Alzheon Garners $4,294,629 New Round”
Jodi Goldstein Named New Head of Harvard Innovation Lab
Harvard University has named a new managing director for its Innovation Lab to succeed outgoing head Gordon Jones, who is leaving in June. She is Jodi Goldstein, and her appointment is no surprise to the i-lab—or the innovation community. Goldstein has been with the Harvard Innovation Lab since its start in 2011. She has served … Continue reading “Jodi Goldstein Named New Head of Harvard Innovation Lab”
Bridj’s Data-Driven Private Bus Fleet Heading to DC
Commuters in Washington, DC, could soon be testing one young company’s vision for a data-driven, private bus fleet with high-end flourishes. Bridj, a Boston-based startup, says it is targeting the nation’s capital for its first expansion. Although there are plenty of details to work out, Bridj says that it “will be available in Washington D.C. … Continue reading “Bridj’s Data-Driven Private Bus Fleet Heading to DC”
To Manage a Successful Sports Team, Focus on Data
The mantra of youth sports where “everyone gets a trophy” is permeating professional leagues. These days every team can claim some semblance of winning. In the bygone era of the NFL, two teams made the playoffs and that consisted of one game, the Super Bowl. Today six teams from each conference advance, and there is … Continue reading “To Manage a Successful Sports Team, Focus on Data”
Marc Raibert Joins Robo Madness Boston, March 11: Here’s the Agenda
We’re two weeks away from one of the biggest robotics events in Boston tech history. Robo Madness Boston will take place the afternoon of Wednesday, March 11, at Google in Kendall Square. Here’s the full agenda, pending a few last-minute tweaks. I’m pleased to announce that famed roboticist Marc Raibert is joining the program. As a … Continue reading “Marc Raibert Joins Robo Madness Boston, March 11: Here’s the Agenda”
FamilyID Lands $850,000 New Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b261f718-13c6-428f-ace5-5cfd4eee8749 Date 2/25/2015 Company Name FamilyID Mailing Address 61 Beaver Road Weston, MA 02493 USA Company Description FamilyID is a fantastically easy-to-use online registration and payment platform. Schools, camps, teams and clubs use FamilyID to create simple online forms, and then sit back as registrations, sign-offs and payments roll in. Website http://www.familyid.com … Continue reading “FamilyID Lands $850,000 New Financing”
Iontera Lands $1,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a9c72228-27d9-4263-9e4b-92afdad8d527 Date 2/25/2015 Company Name Iontera Mailing Address 3 Allied Drive Dedham, MA 02026 USA Company Description Iontera is the maker of BIOBLISS, a toxin-free skin rejuvenation via transdermal patch technology. The BIOBLISS Patch operates using its proprietary ion technology, gently pushing dermatologist-approved anti-wrinkle ingredients to the skin reducing the appearance of … Continue reading “Iontera Lands $1,000,000 New Funding”
Google Buys App-Marketing Software Startup Toro
Artificial intelligence, e-commerce, augmented reality, software that controls smoke alarms—the list goes on for the types of businesses that serial acquirer Google purchased in 2014 alone. Now add Toro, app-marketing software that targets Facebook users, to the mix. For an undisclosed price, Google has acquired Red Hot Labs, which created Toro to run ad campaigns for … Continue reading “Google Buys App-Marketing Software Startup Toro”
PAX East
Information and registration here. In 2004, the folks at Penny Arcade decided they wanted a show exclusively for gaming. Sure, comics, anime, and other nerd hobbies were cool, and those activities all had their own shows… so what about games? From that idea spawned a small 4,500 person event in Bellevue, Washington, focused on the … Continue reading “PAX East”
Humanyze Hits Up Investors to Support “People Analytics” in Business
You know the expression, “It’s all about the people”? One local startup has figured out a way to quantify that approach, using sensors and software in corporate settings. The startup is called Humanyze—it was formerly known as Sociometric Solutions—and it spun out of the MIT Media Lab in 2011. Since then, the eight-person company has … Continue reading “Humanyze Hits Up Investors to Support “People Analytics” in Business”
OrbitHCI Lands Seed Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ff9987ed-c125-4baf-a081-4ea21d9ab2eb Date 2/24/2015 Company Name OrbitHCI Mailing Address One Marina Park Drive Boston, MA 02210 USA Company Description OrbitHCI, Inc. operates in the technology industry. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Seed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “OrbitHCI Lands Seed Financing”
Website Software Seller Acquia Reports $100M in Sales
Acquia has been billing itself as a “pre-IPO” software company for a couple of years now, but the seller of website-publishing software and services remains private. That’s not terribly unusual these days, with a growing number of private tech companies stacking up investment valuations of $1 billion or more without touching the public markets. But … Continue reading “Website Software Seller Acquia Reports $100M in Sales”
Angel Groups Seek to Assure Entrepreneurs They Are Accredited
The angel investing horror story goes something like this: An entrepreneur publicly solicits seed capital under new securities laws, but accidentally accepts investment from an unaccredited investor. When this violation of JOBS Act rules is discovered, the entire investment round must be rolled back and the money—if there’s any left—returned. It’s the ultimate lose-lose situation. “Everything … Continue reading “Angel Groups Seek to Assure Entrepreneurs They Are Accredited”
Yottaa Grows By Helping Customers Boost Website, App Performance
Bad news, marketers and website designers—customers aren’t all that interested in the snazzy features on your websites and mobile apps, like widgets showcasing your clever social media campaign. They just want the page or app to load faster and be easy to navigate, whether they’re using a computer, tablet, or mobile device. That’s the idea … Continue reading “Yottaa Grows By Helping Customers Boost Website, App Performance”
MassTLC 2015 Annual Meeting
Rise and grind techies! And, get your morning dose of news, commentary, economic forecast, and policy insights at the region’s first “talk show” inspired tech event. Local celebrity host John Landry – one of the region’s greatest personalities, long-time techie, angel investor, and advisor – will lead us through a unique morning of commentary, guest … Continue reading “MassTLC 2015 Annual Meeting”
CXO Forum: It Takes a Long Time to Become an Overnight Success – Overcoming the Challenges to be a Strong Leader
Although many would love to believe differently, success does not happen overnight. It takes work, hard work. And perseverance. And having the experience of failures along the way. Join us and top CEOs in the region as they share their stories about how they achieved success and what they learned along the way. With insights … Continue reading “CXO Forum: It Takes a Long Time to Become an Overnight Success – Overcoming the Challenges to be a Strong Leader”
Innovation Hub: Meet the Science Evangelist
Ainissa Ramirez says she’s a “Science Evangelist,” and she travels the country to preach her gospel in classrooms. As a result, the former Yale professor hopes to invigorate students, amping up their engagement with everything from nanotech to material science. I talked to her about how you help a generation of kids find their inner … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Meet the Science Evangelist”
Big Data and the Knowledge Worker: Impacts on Workforce and the Economy
Keynote: Tom Davenport, Professor and Author of bestsellers including Big Data at Work and Competing on Analytics Now that big data is mainstream, it’s no longer about ‘big’ data versus ‘small’ data, but the finding the right data. Much of the future future of big data lies in the affect it will have on knowledge … Continue reading “Big Data and the Knowledge Worker: Impacts on Workforce and the Economy”